Back to Blogging :)

Computer troubles mostly have kept me away from posting... but not from my riding/driving adventures. The farm has been a busy place -  seems I am always
preparing for winter. The riding center hosted many fund raisers and BBQ days for our groups. Now, it's the season for hunting in the woods.


Currently, it's bow season (rifles for turkeys until noon).  Zoe and I have sneaked carefully onto trail where it is wide, but have been riding road more.  Even with hunting, we have seen plenty of deer -- and record breaking flocks of turkey families.  Above, we are in the pine woods at the top of my little mountain.

Mid October - we rode Keri and Elektra up and over Mount Ephraim to get some views of the leaves. The opening at the half way mark is almost prettier than the one at the top.

Hikers can stop here for an inspiring picnic.

This is about the only section of trail which is not a climb.  The foliage is not spectacular this year due to our drought -- then buckets of rain and wind.. all the colorful leaves are on the ground...  but today is a beautiful fall day and the trip is quite scenic today.  Of course, I am always happy to be out with Keri -

Right about here, we have two choices of trail -- travel straight and we will come down off the mountain into Dutton District -- turn right and we continue along a fairly steep and ledgy climb to the top. We are going to trot through Dutton District but we will take the trail down the backside to add length to the ride :)

Zooming in on what little color we have left in the forests. The day we trotted out on this trek was actually peak leaf peeping.. so you can see it is not anything like other years.  Still pretty.

Just about at the top.

I don't ever tire of this view.. it's so peaceful.



Down the backside of the high point.. turn right and trot into Dutton District.

From here, we trot along back roads until we can get into a nice trail at the end of Grover Road. This is a beautiful winding trail full of ups and downs like a roller coaster -- stream crossings in little valleys and back up again. This is one of our favorite trails to trot and canter-   I did take video of our FAV driving pony OYY Nimue on this trail trotting through the narrow tree lined trail during the summer. That was FUN :)

 Elektra by the way has to work hard when she is out on the road and trail ... she still is required to hold her bend and travel correctly.   

A great trip -- refreshing.

I have a few more trips full of color and views which I will post another day -- Zoe and I did accomplish a dream trip one Sunday... we were dropped off in South Woodstock and rode home from there. This was something I have wanted to do forever and it was an outstanding journey on horseback :)   Here is one photo of that trek -- you can read all about it on my farm blog. As usual I took armloads of photo's. We traveled through many towns -- Woodstock, Brownsville, West Windsor, Ascutney, Weathersfield, Reading, Perkinsville and I am not sure where else.

I have a couple of awesome trips planned for the weeks coming up... hoping for decent weather on the right days .. I know our horses are more than ready !!

When Miss Elektra is not climbing mountain trail she is in the ring winning ribbons. She and Zoe worked hard this summer and attended quite a few shows.

Not the most flattering photo of Elektra but she and Zoe won some nice ribbons at their last show of the year..  Elektra has won the Reserve Champion for training level this summer --
this fall show She earned Champion for training level that day ! Great job Girls !!



Enjoy ~